When faced with the daunting possibility of divorce, it’s natural
to question whether or not hiring a divorce lawyer truly is necessary.
Everyone hears about the massive expense of divorce, and many people try
to avoid additional costs by cutting out an attorney. However, choosing
to go through the divorce process without an attorney is rarely, if ever,
in your best interest. While it may save you a quick buck in the short
run, the lack of legal representation can wind up costing you in all the
ways that count.
Before you decide to file for divorce without the help of an attorney,
consider the following:
An Attorney Explains the Process To You
Without an attorney, you will be left to navigate the divorce process without
the help of a legal advocate. Attorneys are, for lack of a better explanation,
legal experts. It is their job to guide you through each step of the divorce
process, saving you time and unnecessary stress. When you do not have
a divorce lawyer, you will have to figure out how to file the appropriate
paperwork, contact your spouse, or their lawyer, negotiate the terms of
your divorce agreement, and prepare for a court appearance without any
sort of direction. Plus, if you make any mistakes along the way, finding
the right way to make amends can be challenging for someone without a
legal background.
Stay Ahead of Your Spouse
If your spouse hires an attorney, it is especially important for you to
do the same. It’s one thing if you and your spouse go head to head
from a level playing field, but if one of you hires an attorney, the other
is automatically at a serious disadvantage. Without an attorney, you could
end up facing a serious issue in the courtroom because, unless you have
a legal background, you simply won’t have the knowledge and resources
your spouse’s attorney does.
A Lawyer Can Help With Mediation
Some people mistakenly believe that if they divorce through mediation,
or file an uncontested divorce, they won’t need an attorney. However,
just because you aren’t going to court, that doesn’t necessarily
mean you don’t need a legal advocate. In mediation, divorcing couples
make their own negotiations for their divorce, rather than relying on
the decisions of a judge. However, with an attorney in your corner, you
can help ensure your voice is heard in any disagreements with your spouse,
and you can rest easy knowing all of the legal paperwork will be handled
properly. Plus, your attorney can help find practical legal solutions
for issues involving child custody, child support, alimony, and property division.
The Cost of an Attorney Will Pay for Itself
Simply put, the amount you spend on a good divorce attorney is always worth
it, in the end. By investing in an experienced, skilled legal advocate,
you’re helping to ensure that you have the best help available working
to ensure you receive what’s most important to you. A good attorney
will be able to prioritize what is most important to you, such as primary
custody of your children, possession of your family home, the retention
of certain accounts and assets, maximum spousal support, and so on. Without
an attorney, you may wind up losing some of your most important assets.
Are you ready to file for divorce?
Contact the Law Office of Kathryn Marteeny to discuss your situation with our Houston family lawyers.